In order to translate the core assumptions of collective bargaining for Vietnamese undergraduates, I have had to turn my attention to the way democracy is actually practiced in our own country.

We also sent Vinh and Dean Hoa a set of 25-30 TDTU powerpoint slides with a proposed first class introduction, in which we say that labor educators take worker’s point of view, not the employer’s point of view, and that these are different and often in conflict, and necessary in order to understand the social relations of work under capitalism.

They wrote back and said they’d be OK as an introduction to our first classes. Also that they’d pick us up at the airport, take us to lunch, drop our suitcases off and talk.

Dean Hoa said that he used that text (or a similar one) and handled it by using labor examples. Joe asked him if he could send some labor examples.

One week from tonight.

Meanwhile, we’re still in Vermont, kids running around, lots of wash and cooking.